Valve closure means



y 15, 1952 J. c. HOBBS 2,603,102

VALVE CLOSURE MEANS Filed Nov. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JAMES CLARENCE/#0355 ATTORNEY y 15, 1952 J. c. HOBBS 2,603,102

VALVE CLOSURE MEANS Filed NOV. 15, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. .754M55 CLARENCE HOBBS J y 15, 1952 J. c. HOBBS 2,603,102

VALVE CLOSURE MEANS Filed Nov. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet a nvmvroa. Jil/7E5 CZAKE/VCE HOBBS Patented July 15, 1952 v UNITED STATES TENT OFFICEThe present invention relates generally to valves and is particularlyconcerned with novel valve actuating means.

A considerable number and variety of means for regulating the flow offluid through valves of various designs, particularly those of largecapacity which are employed in high pressure systems, have heretoforebeen developed. The toggle type is one type of such means, and itconventionally comprises four relatively long links pivotally fastenedat their lower ends to a valve bonnet and four shorter" links pivoted tothe upper ends of long links and to the valve stem. This type of togglearrangement is normally actuated by a threaded rod which threadwiseengages blocks secured to the upper ends of both the long and shortlinks and a wheel for rotating the rod and thus ra sing or lowering-thevalve stem to open or close thevalve. Since the upper ends of the longlinks are not secured to the valve bonnet, regulation offiuid flowthrough the valve results in arcuate movement of the upper ends withrespect to the valve bonnetandstem. Undesirable stresses are therebyapplied to the elements of the toggle as well as the valve stem and makevalve stems of relatively great size and strength necessary. Thesetoggles have a further undesirable feature in that threaded nuts andbolts are required in their construction, and their maintenance istherefore diffioult and expensive. 1'

These toggles in addition are 'difiicult to lubricate.

The actuating means of my invention enables the employment of a stemwhich has a diameter substantially smaller than those heretoforeemployed in toggle type valves and is no larger than necessary to carrythe fluid load of the valve. This means also overcomes the lubricationdiiiiculties of toggle type valves in an economical manner and does notinvolve threaded nuts and bolts to hold the toggles in position andtogether. There are no parts to work loose and become disengaged in mydevices and their maintenance is accordingly not a problem. Furthermore,the present actuating means in a preferred form automatically preventsoverloading of valve seating surfaces, and automatically permitsrelative movement of valve stem to valve seating surfaces in accordancewith changes in load pressures due to changes. in temperature in partsof the valve, or other causes. In addition, the means of my invention ismore effective than the toggle type above described since there is nonegative movement of the upper end of the toggle to the valve stem todecrease the efi'ect of the toggle in moving the stem.

20 Claims. (01, 74-520) "tion 2 The; valve actuating mechanism of thisinvention i'ssecured' to an exterior frame member of'a valve and isthereby maintained in positionand operating relationship to the valve.Movementof this mechanism and of the stem of the valve is guided toassure maximum effect in actuation of. the valve and constant alignmentof the parts. Moreover, the guiding means in one form isadjustable tovalve actuating means of this invention of a variety of dimensions. 7

Those skilled in the art will gain a further understanding of thepresent'invention by referring to the drawings accompanying and forminga part of this specification, in which 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view.of a valve assembly including valve closure means of my inven- Figure 2is a vertical cross-sectionalvi'ewof valve closure means of thisinvention; and

Figure 3 is a view takencn line 3--'3 of. Fig. 2. The actuating means ofthis invention .generally comprises a valve stem, a toggle comprising alower link which is'pivotally attached to the stem and an upper linkwhich is. attached to an element fixed in position relativetothe valvebody, and means for moving the links relative'to each other thereby tomove the. stem relative to the valve body.

The illustrated actuating means more specifically comprises a valve bodyB, a valve stems, a valve yoke Y, a toggle T composed of eight links itarranged in pairs and secured pivotally to stem S and yoke Y, andstemmoving means M, and guide ribs 16. 1

Referring to Fig. l, the valve illustrated is of the gate type in whichthe stem S is movable endwise to move a valve in the valve body andthereby to regulate the flow of fluid through the valve body. The yoke Ystands as a superstructure above the upper end of thev stem and isprovided with a plurality of apertures 'to receive securing means forthe toggle T and two plates l5 each of which has a guide rib portion IS.The yoke is generally cylindrical in its lower portion andis engaged inthat portion directlywith the body of the valve by means of a splitring. I! in accordancewith the disclosure of my. co-pending applicationSerial Number 757,762 filed June 28, 1947. The upper portion comprisestwo parallel, upwardly extending, relatively thin, flat arms 18.

This upper portion is provided with the apertures,

aforementioned.

The'stem S is an elongated shaft having a threadedend portion andanother end portion the sides of the yoke.

carrying a valve sealing disc (not shown), within the valve body, B.

Guide ribs l6 are adjustable relative to the yoke and stem S by means ofshims |9 disposed between plates I and the inner surfaces of arms l8.Depending upon the distance which ribs l6 should be disposed apart, alarger or smaller shim may be inserted between one or both the plates l5and arms l8.

A crosshead 20 having a threaded aperture is threadwise engaged with thestem 5 and is provided with four guide lugs 2| for engagement with ribsIE to guide the crosshead and stem in movement relative to the yoke. Theguide lugs are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the crosshead andthe components of each pair are disposed apart to define a groove toreceive one of the ribs l6.

The toggle T is an assembly of eight links Hl disposed in four series oflink pairs or toggles to define -two, spaced apart, generallydiamondshaped figures which in side elevation appear as a singlesuchfigure,one'being superimposed upon the other. The upper links of thelink pairs are provided with transverse apertures to receive two pinshaving end portions extending through Pins 22 are keyed to the yoke bykeys 23 and extend through the upper links, and through sleeves 24spacing said links in pairs. The lower portions of the lower links aresecured to crosshead 20 by two pins 26 which .are keyed to the links bykeys 21, joining the links in pairs, and which extend through the twotransverse apertures provided in the crosshead. Pins 26 are maintainedin position by plates |5 between which the pins may move horizontally toa small extent. The pins 22 are spaced relatively close together whilepins 26 are disposed apart a greater distance to permit stem S to.extend. between them.

There are four sleeves 24 which are arranged in pairs, each sleeve beingwelded to one of the upper links and in assembly in effect defining withthe sleeve opposed a single sleeve element. The means Mcomprises tworectangular blocks 3|land 3|, a shaft 33 having a threaded end portion,and a hand wheel 31 keyed to the shaft for rotating said shaft andactuating the toggle T and stem S to regulate fluid fiow through thevalve.

The blocks 3|] and 3| are provided with central apertures'to receiveshaft 33 and with trunnions 34 to secure the upper and lower links ofeach link pair together in a toggle knee joint. Block 30 is disposedadjacent to the threaded end portion of the shaft and is threadwiseengaged with the shaft, while block 3| is disposed at. the opposite endof the shaft adjacent to .handwheel 31.

Theaperture of block 3| is enlarged in its outer portions to receive twoball bearing assemblies 45 and annular springs 45 to valve body whensuch movement would overload and damage the valve.

In assembling the illustrated valve, the crosshead carrying pins 26 isthreaded upon the end of stem S. Shaft 33 and hand wheel 31 are securedtogether and blocks 30 and 3| and nut 40 are engaged with the shaft, asshown. The four lower links of the toggle T are then engaged with thetrunnions of the blocks 30 and 3| and the lower ends of these links arekeyed to pins 26. The upper four links of the toggle T are then engagedwith the trunnions and yoke Y is secured to the valve body, as shown inFig. 1. As the final steps, pins 22 are inserted through appropriateapertures in the yoke Y and are keyed to the yoke, and guide ribs |6 aredisposed in position and secured to the arms of the yoke by studsextending through apertures in yoke Y and into plates |5 bearing theribs.

The disassembling operation may be accomplished by reversing the aboveprocedure, or in any other convenient manner, such as by loosening ringdisengaging crosshead 20 from the stem by rotating the yoke and toggleassembly relative to the stem and body, and removing pins 22 and liftingthe toggle assembly from within the yoke.

The use of the valve actuating means illustrated to regulate fluid flowthrough a valve merely involves rotation of hand wheel 31 to move toggleT to raise or lower stem Sand thereby increase or decrease-the flow offluid in the valve. Regulation of fluid flow in this manner cannot beinjurious to the valve seating surfaces or discs because movement of thestem to close the valve beyond ja; predetermined point is impossiblebecause of block 40. 'Any tendency for the toggles to movebeyond apredetermined point out of alignment with each other and the crossheadwill be prevented by plates l5 of the uides.

Although I have illustrated and described in detail the'double toggleform of this invention in which the links are pivotally secured to thecrosshead and yoke, by means of pins keyed to the yoke and other pinskeyed to the links and extending through the crosshead, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that the invention encompasses a wider field,including single toggles and toggles in which links are not thus securedto the yoke and stem, but are joined thereto in manners well known tothe art. It will also be understood that while I have disclosed togglesdisposed to define diamond-shaped figures in side elevation, they maydefine any suitable shapes and it is not necessary in double toggleassemblies that the shapes be the same or have the same dimensions.

Having thus described the present invention so that those skilled in theart will be able to practice and understand the same, I state that whatI desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Valve actuating means comprising a valve body, a valve stem movableendwise in said body, a yoke attached to said body and provided with anelongated guide, a crosshead secured to the end of the valve stem andhaving means to engage said guide so that the crosshead will be guidedin movement relative to said yoke, a pair of toggles cooperating todefine a diamond in cross section and having lower links pivotallysecured in their lower portions to said crosshead and upper linkspivotally secured in their upper portions to said yoke, and means formoving the links relative to each other to move said stem relative tothe body, said means including a block for limiting movement of the stemto prevent movement of the stem beyond a predetermined extent, and aspring for resiliently op posing movement of the stem.

:2. Valve actuating 'means comprising a valve body,a valve stem movableendwise in said body, a yokeprovided with an elongated guide, a crosswhead secured to the end of the valve stem and having means to engagesaid guide so that the crosshead will be'guided in movement relative tosaid yoke, and a pair of toggles having knee joints and upper and lowerend portions secured to the c'rosshead and cooperating to define adiamond in'cross section, and means for moving the toggles relative toeach other'to move said stem relative to'the valve, said moving meanscomprising a block having a threaded aperture and being secured to theknee portion of a toggle, a second block having an aperture and beingengagedwith the knee portion of the other togglaa shaft having athreaded portion and extending through said apertured blocks and beingthreadwise engagedwith the first mentioned block, a lock nut threadwiseengaged withand keyed to said shaft to retain the second mentioned blockin position relative to the shaft, a hand wheel keyed to said shaftadjacent to said second mentioned block,

a thrust bearing in said block engaging a shoulder on saidshaft'adjacent to said hand wheel, another thrust bearing insaid blockengaging the lock nut, and springs between the first mentioned thrustbearing and the said block to resiliently oppose movement of the blocksrelative to each other. I

' 3. Valve actuating means comprising a valve body; a valve stem movableendwise in said'body, an apertured yoke provided with an elongatedguide, an apertured crosshead fastened to an end of the valve stem andhaving-means to engage 'said guide so that the crosshead will be guidedin movement relative to said yoke, a double toggle having a pair oflower links pivotally attached at their lower ends to said crosshead anda pair of upper links pivotally attached at their upper ends tosaidyoke, means for moving-the links relative to each other to move saidstem relative to the body, and means for pivotally attaching the togglelinks to the crosshead and yoke comprising a pin keyed to the lowerlinks and partially disposed in an aperture in the crosshead, and apinconnecting the upper links and keyed to the yoke.

4. Valve actuating means comprising a valve body, a valve stem movableendwise in said body, an apertured yoke, apertured crosshead havinggrooved opposite sides, a pair of guide ribs adjustably secured to theyoke for engagement with the grooved sides of the crosshead to guidesaid crosshead in movement relative to the yoke, a double toggle havinga pair of lower links pivotally attached at their lower ends to saidcrosshead and a pair of upper links pivotally attached at their upperends to said yoke, means for moving the links relative to each other tomove said stem relative to the body, and means for pivotally attachingthe toggle links to the crosshead and yoke comprising a pin keyed tothe: lower links and partially disposed in an aperturein the cross: 7

head, and a pin connecting the upper links and keyed to the yoke.

5. Valve actuating means comprising a valve body, a stem movable endwisein said body, a toggle having two sets of links, the lower links beingpivotally associated with said stem and the upper links being pivotallyattached at their upper ends to an element in position relative to thebody, means for moving the upper and I lower links relative to eachother to move said stem relative to the body, and means including aspring for resiliently opposing movement'of said link moving means.

16. Valve actuating means comprising a valve body, a stem movableendwise in said body, a

toggle having two sets of links, the lower links being pivotallyassociated with said stem and the upper'links being pivotally attachedat their upper ends toan element fixed in position relative to thebody,shaft means for moving the upper and lower links relative to eachother to move said stem relative .to the body, means for limitingmovement of the stem including a stop surrounding and fixed in positionon said shaft.

".7. Apparatus for actuatingavalve' in a valve body comprising a yokehaving spaced, parallel.

arms, parallel spaced pins connecting and keyed to the free ends of saidarms, a valve stem extending from the body into the space between saidarms, a crosshead attached to the stem betweensaidarms, and toggle meansconnected to said pins and to said crosshead, said means including twopairs of upper links having opposed sleeves at their upper endsrotatably mounted on said pins, two pairs of lower links, pins keyedtothe lower ends of the pairs of lower links and extending through thecrossheadfor rotation relative thereto,-blocks rotatably con nectingtheadjacent ends of the pairs of upper and lower links, and a rotatablescrew extending through said blocks and having bearing engagement withone block and threadedengagement with the other block.

8. Apparatus for actuating a valve in a valve body comprising a yokehaving spaced, parallel arms, parallel'spaced pins connecting and keyedto the free ends of said-arms, a valve stem ex tending from the bodyinto the space between said arms, a crossh'ead attached to the stembetween said arms, and toggle means connecting said pins to saidcrosshead, said means includ ing two pairs of upper links rotatablymounted at their upper ends on said pins, two pairs of lower links,vpins connecting the lower ends of the lower links and extending throughthe cross.- head, blocks rotatably connecting the adjacent ends of thepairs of upper and lower links, bearings in one of said blocks and arotatablescrew extending through said blocks and'having bearingengagement with said bearings and threaded engagement with the otherblock, and a stop nut threaded to and fixed in position on the screw andhaving annular end surfaces engaging one block and a bearing in theother-block.

9. Apparatus for actuating a valve in a valve body comprising a yokehaving spaced, parallel arms, parallel spaced pins connecting and keyedto the free-ends of said arms, a valve stem extending from the body intothe space between said arms, a orosshead attached to the stem betweensaid arms, and toggle means connecting said pins to said crosshead, saidmeans including two pairs of upper links rotatably mounted at theirupper endson said pins, two pairs of lower links, pins connecting the.lower ends of the lower links and extending through the crosshead,blocks rotatably connecting the adjacent ends of the pairs of upper andlower links, bearings in one of said blocks a rotatable screw extendingthrough said blocks and having bearing engagement with said bearings andthreaded engagement with the other block, a stop nut keyed to the screwand engaging oneof said bearings, and engageable with the other block,and annular spring means between the screw and the bearing carryingblock to oppose endwise relative movement of the screw and block.

10. Apparatus for actuating a valve in a valve body comprising a yokehaving spaced, parallel arms, parallel spaced pins connecting and keyedto the free ends of said arms, a'valve'stemextending from the body intothe space between said arms, a crosshead attached to the stem betweensaid arms, and toggle means connecting said pins to said crosshead, saidmeans including two pairs of upper links rotatably mounted at theirupper ends on said pins, two pairs of lower links, pins connecting thelower ends of the lower links and extending through the'crosshead,blocks rotatably connecting the adjacent ends of the pairs of upper andlower links, a rotatable screw extending through said blocks and havingbearing engagement with one block and threaded engagement with the otherblock, and annular spring means between the screw and the bearingcarrying block'to oppose endwise relative movement of the screw andblock.

11. Apparatus for actuating a valve in a valve body comprising a yokehaving spaced, parallel arms, parallel, spaced pins connecting and keyedto the free ends of said arms, a valve stem extending from the body intothe space between said arms, a crosshead attached to the stem betweensaid arms, and toggle means connected to said pins and to saidcrosshead, said means including two pairs of upper links, said linkslying close to the sides of said arms and having opposed sleeves attheir upper ends rotatably mounted on said pins, two pairs of lowerlinks lying close to said upper links, and pins keyed to the lower endsof said lower links and extending through the crosshead for rotationrelative thereto.

12. Apparatus for actuating a valve in a valve body comprising a yokehaving spaced, parallel arms, pins connecting the free ends of saidarms, a valve stem extending from the body into the space between saidarms, a crosshead attached to the stem between said arms, guidespositioned on the opposed sides of said arms and guidingly engaging saidcrosshead, and toggle means connected to said pins and to saidcrosshead, said means including two pairs of upper links, saidlinks-lying close to the inner sides of said arms, two pairs of lowerlinks lying close to the crosshead and to the inner sides of said guidesand upper links, and pins extending through the crosshead and into thelower links and stopping short of the guides.

13. Apparatus for actuating a valve in a valv body comprising a yokehaving spaced, parallel arms, pins connecting and keyed to the free endsof said arms, a valve stem extending from the body into the spacebetween said arms, a crosshead attached to the stem between said arms,guides positioned on the opposed sides of said arms and guidinglyengaging said crosshead, and toggle means connected to said pins and tosaid crosshead, said means including two pairs of upper links lyingclose to the sides of said arms and rotatably mounted at their upperends on said pins, two pairs of lower links lying between and close tothe guides and crosshead and close to the inner side of said upperlinks, pins connecting the lower ends of said lower links and extendingthrough the crosshead, blocks rotatably connecting the adjacent ends ofthe pairs of upper and lower links, and a rotatable screw extendingthrough said blocks and having bearing engagement with one block andthreaded engagement with the other block.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprisin a yoke, guide meansadjustably fixed to said yoke, a member movably engaging said guidemeans, two parallel sets of toggles arranged in two diamond-shapedfigures, each set comprising two outer links pivotally anchored at oneend and two inner links pivoted to said movable member at their innerends, means pivotally connecting the opposed ends of the links, saidmeans including blocks disposed between the sets of toggles with eachblock pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of two links of each set oftoggles, and means extending between and operatively associated withsaid blocks for moving them toward and away from one another.

15. Apparatus of the class described comprising a guided movable member,two parallel sets of toggles between said arms and arranged in twodiamond-shaped figures, each set comprising two outer links pivotallyanchored at one end and two inner links pivoted at their outer ends tosaid movable member, means pivotally connecting the opposed ends of thelinks, said means including blocks disposed between the sets of togglesand each block pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of two links ofeach set of toggles, a screw extending through said blocks for movingthem toward and away from one another, bearings in one of said blocksaround said screw and a stop on said screw and engageable with one ofsaid blocks and with one of said bearings in the other block to limitthe extent of movement of the blocks toward each other.

16. Apparatus of the class described comprising a guided movable member,two parallel sets of toggles between said arms and arranged in twodiamond-shaped figures, each set comprising two outer links pivotallyanchored at one end and two inner links pivoted at their outer ends tosaid. movable member, means pivotally connecting the opposed ends of thelinks, said means including blocks disposed between the sets of togglesand each block pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of two links ofeach set of toggles, a screw extending through said blocks for movingthem toward and away from one another, hearings in one of said blocksaround said screw, a stop on said screw and engageable with one of saidblocks and with one of said bearings in the other block to limit theextent of movement of the blocks toward each other, and. resilient meansin one block engaging said screw to absorb force applied by said screwwhen movement of the blocks away from each other is resisted.

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising a yoke having spacedarms connected at their inner and outer ends, a crosshead between andguided in straight line movement by said arms, a stem screw-threaded insaid crosshead, said stem and crosshead being relatively rotatable foraxial positioning of'the stern, two parallel sets of toggles betweensaid arms and arranged in two diamond-shaped figures, each setcomprising two links pivoted at their inner ends to the crosshead andtwo other links pivoted at their outer ends to the yoke, means pivotallyconnecting the opposed ends of the links, said means including blocksdisposed between the sets of toggles with each block pivotallyconnecting the adjacent ends of two links of each set of toggles, andmeans extending between and op eratively associated with said blocks formoving them toward and away from one another to move said crosshead.

18. Valve actuating means comprising a valve body, a valve stem movableendwise in said body, an apertured yoke provided with an elongatedguide, an apertured crosshead fastened to one end of the valve stem andhaving means to engage said guide so that the crosshead will be guidedin movement relative to said yoke, a double toggle having a pair oflower links and a pair of upper links, means for pivotally attaching thetoggle links to the crosshead and yoke comprising a pin keyed to thelower links and partially disposed in an aperture in the crosshead and apin connecting the upper links to the yoke, and means for moving thelinks relative to each other to move the stem relative to the body,

19. Valve actuating means comprising a valve body, a valve stem movableendwise in said body, an apertured yoke provided with an elongatedguide, an apertured crosshead fastened to one end of the valve stem andhaving means to en gage said guide so that the crosshead will be guidedin movement relative to said yoke, a double toggle having a pair oflower links and a pair of upper links, means for pivotally attaching thetoggle links to the crosshead and yoke comprising a pin in the lowerlinks partially disposed in an aperture in the crosshead and a pinconnecting the upper links and keyed to the yoke, and means for movingthe links relative to each other to move the stem relative to the body.

1O 20. Apparatus of the class described comprising a guided movablemember, two parallel'sets of toggles arranged in two diamond-shapedfigures,-

each set comprising two outer links pivotally anchored at one end andtwo inner links pivoted at their remote ends to said movable member,means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links, said meansincluding blocks disposed between the sets of toggles with each blockpivotally connecting the adjacent ends of two links of each set oftoggles, a screw extending through said blocks for moving them towardand away from one another, bearings in one of said blocks around saidscrew, and a spring in one block engaging said screw to absorb forceapplied by said screw when movement of the blocks away from each otheris resisted.

JAMES CLARENCE HOBBS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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